Weekend hospital admissions have been subjected to a range of studies in recent years due to the increased risk of mortality and morbidity associated with such admissions.

The increase in mortality rate has been attributed to a variety of factors which are explored in this article.

Staffing levels

One of the most highly cited reasons for the increase in mortality rate of patients admitted to the hospital over the weekends compared to weekdays is the staffing levels.

Many studies have found that fewer staff are available over the weekends which can lead to delays in care, miscommunication, and ultimately negative outcomes for patients.

Limited access to resources

Another major contributor to increased mortality rates for weekend hospital admissions is limited access to resources. This can include diagnostic imaging machines, laboratory testing, and specialist care.

On the weekends, these resources may be less readily available, leading to longer wait times for patients and increased risk of negative outcomes.

Less experienced staff

Weekend hospital admissions may also be subject to less experienced staff than weekday admissions. Many studies have found that more experienced staff tend to work during weekdays, leaving less experienced staff to manage the weekend workload.

This can lead to mistakes in care, misdiagnosis, and ultimately increased mortality rates.

Delay in treatment

The delay in treatment is another major factor that can contribute to the increase in mortality rate for weekend hospital admissions.

Due to the staffing and resource issues, there may be delays in diagnosis or treatment, which can significantly impact a patient’s outcome. This delay can be particularly detrimental in cases where rapid treatment is critical such as heart attack or stroke.

Higher patient acuity

Weekend hospital admissions are often associated with higher patient acuity compared to weekday admissions. This can be due to a variety of factors such as patients delaying seeking medical care until the weekend, or an increase in severe emergencies.

Higher acuity patients require more intensive care and monitoring which can put additional strain on the limited resources available over the weekends.

Inconsistent quality of care

Due to the staffing and resource issues, there may be inconsistencies in the quality of care delivered over the weekends.

Patients may be seen by healthcare providers who are not familiar with their medical history or care plan, which can lead to communication errors and a subsequent decline in care quality. This inconsistency can ultimately contribute to the higher mortality rate of weekend hospital admissions.

Cogent solutions

To decrease the mortality rate of weekend hospital admissions, several cogent solutions have been proposed by researchers.

Staffing levels should be increased over the weekends, including more experienced medical personnel to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Additionally, resources such as laboratory testing and imaging machines should be available to patients throughout the weekend.

These solutions can help to overcome the challenges experienced by many hospitals in adequately managing the weekend workload.

The challenges of implementing solutions

While solutions have been proposed to reduce the mortality rate of weekend hospital admissions, implementing these solutions can be challenging.

Hospitals are often faced with limited budgets and resources, which may prevent them from hiring additional staff or acquiring new equipment. Additionally, many solutions require widespread changes in the healthcare system, which may pose challenges to policy-makers and stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

Conclusion

The increased mortality rate of weekend hospital admissions is a significant problem that requires urgent attention from healthcare providers and policy-makers.

By understanding the contributing factors, healthcare providers can better manage the weekend workload and ensure that patients receive the best possible care throughout the week. The implementation of cogent solutions, while challenging, is essential in reducing the mortality rate of weekend hospital admissions and providing patients with optimal care and outcomes.